Remarkable rearranged Glass

Glass’s Violin Concerto along with works by Tavener and Nyman are rearranged for saxophone and are a triumph in Amy Dickson's skilled hands

Composer: Glass, Tavener, Nyman
Repertoire: Music for Saxophone and Orchestra
Artists: Amy Dickson (sax), RPO/Mikel Toms
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Orchestra
Label: RCA Red Seal 88697 37679-2

A new recording of Philip Glass’s Violin Concerto arranged for saxophone? It hardly seemed possible until I heard Australian virtuoso and this month’s cover star Amy Dickson throwing off Glass’s quick-fire semiquavers with a brilliance and panache to rival any violinist. Indeed, the haunting eloquence she brings to the central movement is expressively in a class of its own. No less remarkable is the sustained purity she imparts to the opening section of Tavener’s The Protecting Veil (originally scored for cello), while her melting phrasing and rhythmic pungency throughout Nyman’s Where the Bee Dances keeps the ears buzzing and the feet tapping.